meat-and-potatoes

1 of 2

adjective

meat-and-po·​ta·​toes ˈmēt-ən(d)-pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tōz 

1

: of fundamental importance : basic

the meat-and-potatoes provisions in the contract

also : concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something

meat-and-potatoes sports fans

2

: unpretentious, simple

a real meat-and-potatoes guy

3

: providing or preferring simple food (such as meat and potatoes)

meat and potatoes

2 of 2

noun

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: the most interesting or fundamental part : meat sense 4

the meat and potatoes of the report

Synonyms of meat-and-potatoes

Adjective

• basic
• elementary
• introductory
• rudimentary
• fundamental

Noun

• root
• heart
• core
• kernel
• essence
• bottom line
• meat
• sum and substance
• point

Examples of meat-and-potatoes in a Sentence

Adjective

a meat-and-potatoes knowledge of figure skating is all that a spectator really needs

Noun

an article that never gets into the meat and potatoes of a solution to the city's rising crime rate

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

When working in that vein, Barnett’s journeys through self-doubt are well-matched with the stomping, meat-and-potatoes indie-rock production that Burke Reid and Dan Luscombe brought to her first two albums. —Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026

Wahlberg was a 20-something bad boy who took a more meat-and-potatoes (or Peter Berg and Peter Berg) route to popular success. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026

Noun

Cooked meat and potatoes were found in a cold holding unit at 65 to 70 degrees for around three hours without temperatures being measured through the process. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026

The premise that Valerie must keep that AI secret from the rest of her cast, and from the industry as a whole, gives this season a solid comedic game and allows for the kind of misunderstandings and humiliations that are the meat and potatoes of classic situation comedy. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meat-and-potatoes

• potatoes
• tomatoes